Montana Native Vote Endorses Jon Tester for United States Senate

Montana Native Vote and its Members Endorse Jon Tester as Best Candidate to Fight for Indian Country

Billings—Today, Montana Native Vote endorsed farmer and United States Senator Jon Tester as the best candidate to fight for Indian Country and ensure that Native Americans have a voice in D.C.

Tester has been a leader for Native issues in Washington, and fights to make sure that the federal government is following through on its treaty responsibilities to Indian tribes. As a member and former chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has held government accountable to our sovereign tribal nations and has fought to get Indian Country the resources they need.

“Whether it’s education or health care or voting rights or anything in between, Montana’s tribes deserve representation and someone to fight alongside them in Washington,” Tester said. “It’s an honor to be endorsed by Montana Native Vote, and I hope to continue to build on our work to make sure Native Americans have a voice in the Senate.”

“Too often, Native Americans are denied a seat at the table when out-of-touch politicians are making decisions that affect us—but not Jon,” said Marci McClean of Montana Native Vote. “Jon listens to us and brings our fight back with him to Washington. We’re proud to stand strong with Jon Tester and his work for Indian Country.”

Tester has continued to lead the charge on Indian Country’s priorities to make sure they are addressed at a federal level. Tester has fought to get Montana tribes and tribal law enforcement the tools and resources to seek justice for missing and murdered indigenous women, improve health care access, invest in infrastructure, and expand educational opportunities to Native American students.

Tester has regularly demanded that the new administration address the priorities of Native Americans, and has held them accountable when they tried to cut resources for the IHS and the crucial services they provide on Montana reservations.

Matt Rosendale has regularly ignored the voices of Montana’s tribes. He has voted against educational opportunities for Native students, supports policies that would slash health care access for Native Americans, and even claimed that there was a lack of economic development in Indian Country because Native Americans had not “taken personal responsibility.”

Recently, Congress moved to recognize the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, a move that Tester strongly supports. In the legislature, Rosendale voted against a resolution urging federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe.